title: [Direct clinical practice: conceptual analysis. Central competence for the development of advanced nursing practice].
abstract: The recent implementation in Spain of post degree in nursing has made possible the emergence of new advanced profiles, which direct clinical practice is the core competence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse and clarify the term of direct clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A conceptual analysis was carried out based on Rogers's evolutionary approach. A review of the literature was made in the following data bases: PubMed, CINAHL, ISI Web of Knowledge, Psych INFO (Ovid) and Cochrane Library. Furthermore, five books about advanced practice nursing were revised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  7 articles and 4 books based on the inclusion criteria were selected. After their analysis the concept of direct clinical practice is defined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper clarifies the concept of direct clinical practice and helps to have a stronger base of knowledge. This will serve as foundation to improve and perfect the conceptualization of this term.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería Comunitaria y Materno Infantil, Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Navarra. mpardavila@unav.es
authors.forename: Miren Idoia
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Pardavila Belio
authors.forename: Cristina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Vivar
authors.forename: Navidad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Canga Armayor
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans